Four years after their last UK appearance, soul legends The Temptations and The Four Tops return to the UK for a short co-headlining tour in June and July. The tour will arrive at Bournemouth International Centre on Wednesday, 1 July 2026.

Almost 60 years after they first performed in the UK, these two Motown giants will join forces to bring the golden age of Soul to the stage with decades of chart-topping hits, unforgettable harmonies and timeless stage charisma, giving fans a night of pure fun and sing-along nostalgia that transcends generations. Formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1961,

The Temptations are one of the most influential vocal groups in American music history, known for their smooth harmonies, dynamic choreography, and genre-defining soul hits. Led by founding member Dr Otis Williams, the group continues to thrill audiences with live performances worldwide, boasting a catalogue of 37 Top 40 singles, including four number ones.

The Temptations dominated the charts with a string of hits, including ‘Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,’ ‘I Wish It Would Rain’, and ‘Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me).’ They were known not only for their vocal prowess but also for their slick suits and synchronised dance moves, setting a new standard for R&B performance. They evolved musically over the years, embracing Psychedelic Funk with tracks like “Cloud Nine” ", Psychedelic Shack", "Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone", and the biting social commentary of Ball Of Confusion gave them an edge missing from many of their peers.

Meanwhile, The Four Tops originally came together as The Four Aims in 1953, comprising Levi Stubbs, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson and Lawrence Payton before changing to the world famous Four Tops in 1956 when they released a number of early singles on Chess Records and Columbia Records, building up their live performances in the process through endless touring. This line-up would remain constant for almost half a century.

Expect an evening of Top 40 hits and Number One singles, including "Reach Out I'll Be There", "It's The Same Old Song", "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)", "My Girl", "Get Ready" and "Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone" and many others.

Otis Williams: “I always, always love coming to the UK. I think of it as my second home. The people here make us feel so at home. They love and appreciate the music, and they have always strongly supported us. They are so loyal and dedicated. What's not to love about coming to the UK?”

Lawrence Payton Jr. “The Temptations with their choreography is matched by no one. When they first came out, it was so exciting to see that. It was something we'd never seen before. With the Four Tops, there's the vocal prowess. You had that bellowing lead voice of Levi and those beautiful harmonies that they put together. So it's like a perfect contrast. We're not going to out-dance them and they're not going to out-sing us.”

Tickets on-sale Friday, 28 November at 9am on bic.co.uk